Myanmar democracy talks inspires little hope

Myanmar democracy talks inspires little hope

Sarah Stewart, Agence France-Presse, Bangkok

Landmark international talks on democratic reform in Myanmar are to be held here on Monday, but even the Thai hosts have warned they will not produce a magic solution to end four decades of military rule.

Australia, Austria, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan and Singapore are to attend the half-day conference led by Foreign Minister Surakiart Sathirathai, who said last week that change would be slow in coming.

"We don't expect anything concrete from the first meeting, it would be impossible. We just want people to meet and understand each other, which will help to bring about national reconciliation," he said.

At the talks, Myanmar's representative Foreign Minister Win Aung will be pushed to explain the ruling junta's "road map" toward democracy which was unveiled in August by new Prime Minister Gen. Khin Nyunt.

Critics of the regime dismiss the proposal as a smokescreen, pointing out that it gives no timeframe for reforms to start and fails to mention opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi who is currently under house arrest.

But most of the participating nations -- generally represented by deputy foreign ministers or senior ministry officials -- have said they will use the conference to glean information rather than make demands.

"We are here to listen to what the Myanmar side and others have to say. We are not presenting any views, we are listening to the views from the Burmese side," said an Indian embassy official in Bangkok.

However, during talks with Khin Nyunt in Tokyo on Friday, Myanmar's biggest donor Japan made it clear that if the military regime wants aid money to flow into the impoverished nation it must begin implementing the road map.

Japan's Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi urged the junta number-three to promote the reform process "so that it would become easier for Japan to extend assistance," a Japanese official said.

Myanmar said in the run-up to the talks that it would not attend if it was going to be criticized, and Thailand has pointedly left the regime's two loudest critics, the United States and Britain, off the guest list.

Other influential figures at the meeting include Indonesia's representative, former foreign minister Ali Alatas who went to Yangon in September to push -- unsuccessfully -- for Suu Kyi to be freed before a Southeast Asian summit.

But the participation of China, represented by Assistant be freed before a Southeast Asian summit.Foreign Affairs Minister Shen Guo Sang, lends weight to the talks as it is Myanmar's main trading partner and one of its few international allies.

Human rights activists remain skeptical that the junta intends to embark on reforms or give any ground at the Bangkok talks which are being held six months after a sweeping crackdown on the pro-democracy opposition.